'Poison' doctor: I thought lover was on the Pill

The married doctor accused of spiking his girlfriend's drinks to force her to miscarry today told the Old Bailey how he wanted her to abort their child.

Dr Edward Erin said he had fallen for his secretary Bella Prowse at a Christmas party last year.

He had just broken up from another extramarital affair and Ms Prowse had been "very supportive and very nice."

The doctor had assumed she was on the pill but only found out she was taking no contraception a month into their relationship, when she was pregnant.

Dr Erin, 44, told the jury he had been "shocked" but determined she should not have the baby.

"It was my opinion we should not proceed with the pregnancy, it was too early in our relationship, we had only known each other for a month," the father-of-two told the court.

"I didn't think it was the right time to have a child. Things were going very well, she was a very nice person.

"I was shocked. Her reaction was similar. She appeared to be very shocked and upset."

He added: "It was a very confusing time. We had discussions about Bella going ahead with an abortion. It was highly charged emotionally. There was anger involved, it was a difficult situation. She had issues with an abortion."

Ms Prowse, who had had a previous abortion, began research on the internet and at first approached a GP about an abortion. Erin added: "I said I was prepared to pay for an abortion at a private clinic."

But the court has heard Ms Prowse finally decided she wanted the baby.

She has told the jury Erin mixed drugs into her coffee, tea and orange juice on three d occasions in February after she refused the termination.

He allegedly used methotrexate, diclofenac and misoprostol, all of which could "procure a miscarriage" or cause birth defects.

Ms Prowse, 33, went to police and told them she had found suspicious powder in drinks Erin had either prepared or bought for her.

Erin told the court today he started the fling with Ms Prowse after the end of his affair with registrar Malin Roesner.

Erin, of Kensington, denies procuring poisons with intent to procure a miscarriage. He also denies administering poison with intent to procure a miscarriage and two charges of attempting to administer poison. The case continues.